Bottle-washing brush



sept. 29, 1931'.

.1.l L. HERoLD ET AL y 1,824,994

BOTTLE WASHING BRUSH Filed June 2l. 1929 Maw Patented Sept. 29, 1931 :UNITED:

' JAMES L. HEROLDAND Josnrii wrawson, or. s'irjLoUIsQMrssoUni, .assrenonsmo i BARRY-.WEHMILLER MACHINEnY COMPANY, or. sfr. LoUrs, .Mrssouar, `Av ooRPof Barron or MissoUnr- Applicationfilledv .Tune 'Y 21,

faces of the bottles, so that the entire area of the side faces of the bottles,'and the entire area of the bottom faces, as well 'as the internal corners, are all subjected'to the forcible brushing action. 1 Y f f The strength, durability and forcible brushy'ing action are ydue partly'to the Vuse of relatively large and `heavy brushingfingers, instead of fine bristles orthinwebs.l The distribution of the forciblebrushingpressure is due to the-arrangement of theselarge-ingers, which enables each inger,or each-group of fingers, to effectively perform itsk particular function. 4For example, one'group of fingers is so designed andso arranged that it brushes the entire bottom face in the bottle and the circular corner at the periphery of 'thebottom, while a different group of the lingers is designedto forcibly brush the inner cylindrical face'of the bottle.Y vThe several groups perform their-respective functions -to distribute the forcible pressure throughout all of the faces t'o be brushed,l as will behereafter described. A

In the preferredrform ofthe invention, all

of these results vare accomplished by a simple and inexpensive rubber brush, andas an illustration of a suitable structure a section' of simple rubber tubing islshown to provide a group of rubberfingersintegral with an attaching collar,the tubing being split from the collar to the tipsof the fingers. Many features of the invention are not limitedto this detail, but very satisfactory results have been obtained by this simple'brush structure. Afurther advantage in strength and'durability is'gained by a fabric reinforcement eX- tending from the attaching means toV the brushing tips ofthe rubbervlingers,

Withthevforegoing and otherobjects in 1929. serial No. 372,558. Y.

view, the invention comprises thenovelconunderstood that the invention Acomprehends Y changes, variations andV mddicat'ions' which come `within the scope' of the claims'hereunto app`ended."

Fig. l is aside elevation of the'brush asf it `appears when subjected tovcentrifugal force Ain 'a bottle, tlie'latter'being shownvin section. v

jFig. V2 vis a detail'view showing the stem and portions of the brushing elements secured thereto'. 4 j VvFig. Sis a side ,view ofo'ne ofthe brushing elements as; it appears before' it: is applied to Fig. 4 isan the line Ll--finv Fig.A 3, showing'the fabric reinforcing memberl which extends fromend to endY of 'the brushing element."

Fig. 5 isan end'viewofftlhe brush.`

Fig. 6 is a side view of the brush.

3 In the'forln ofthe invention shown bythe drawings, a metal stem or' 'core l'is's'crewed onto a rot'atablejrod 2v( Fig. 2), andthis'ste'm is provided with annularfseats and 4, and

abutment shoulders 5 and 6 at thc inner ends of the respectiveseats.- Theout'er'end of the stem is; enlargedl as shown at 7 in F 2.-

Theside brushing elements, which act upon the side'faces of the bottles,` preferably include two circularrows or groups, of 4flexible "j rubber fingers 8, each group being formed in.- tegr'al' with a rubber collar b9 tensioned on lder 6 to preventA longitudinal displacement enlarged transverse section on Athe elongated-seat 4, as shown in Fig.2.` One of these collars `9 engages-the abutment shoul-v of saidvcollar, and theother collar 9 lies be-V tween the aforesaid collar` and the abutment shoulder 5. d. i

' Thefl'ezrible fingers 8 extend from the sidres l' of the rotatableistem 1, andthe Vfree vend portions' Vof said yfingers have 'brushing faces vwhich arev thrown by centrifugal force'onto theside faces ofthe bottle. whilethe brushing ydevice, is rotated in the bottle. This condition is suggested invFig. 1.' 'e

The fingers 8 in one of the circular groups preferably alternate with, or lie between, the companion fingers 8 in the other group, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. This alternating arrangement of the fingers prevents them from interfering with each other and distributes the brushing elements around ythe periphery of the brush. Y v

As shown by Figs. 3 and 4, each group of brushing fingers 8 and its attaching collar 9 can'beconveniently made from a section of rubber tubing, split lengthwise to provide free, flexible brushing fingers; arcuate in cross section. 4 y

An important reinforcing element, is obtained'in: a simple manner by the use of rubber tubing reinforced byfabric 10 as shown in Fig. 4.Y This fabric. is enclosed by the rubberA and itextends throughout the length of the tubing. Therefore, each brushing elementis provided with a substantial reinforce- ,ment extending from. itsattaching collar 9 tothe brushing tips of its fingers. The strong `and durable. rubber fingers are large enough to cover a relatively large area of the face to be brushed` and they are heavy enough -totbe very -forcibly'held on this faceA by the action of centrifugal force. -Moreover, the forcible brushing action is well distributed over the entire Yinner face of the bottle as the large Vbrushing tips move in Wide spiral paths while the rotating brush moves lengthwise'pf thebottle.` However, another problem arises Afrom the vdifferent condition at the. bottom of the bottle, the object.'y being to obtain an effective brushing action at the bottom `of the bottle and in the corner where the lbottom merges into the side, or peripheral, portion of the bottle. Y It is important tothoroughly brush the entire area of this bottom, including its central portion as well as the corner at the periphery of the bottom. l f

This function is effectively performed by an end brushing element extending from the end portion of the stem and having its brushing fingers arranged in a peculiar manner to positively accomplish the desired results.

In the preferred form ofthe invention, this end brushing element comprises a rubber attaching collar 11 tensioned on the seat 3 (Fig. 2) and'engaging the abutment 5 to prevent longitudinal displacement of the collar relative to the stem. Flexible rubber fingers 12` 13 and 14" extend from this collar 11, and these fingers are long enough to project into the circular corner at the bottom of the bottle` as shown in Fig. 1.

At this point it may be well to observejthat .if the brushing fingers are not positively directed into the circular corner, they might liein an irregular mass, more or less remote from the corner. Therefore. a peculiar arrangement of elements has been devised to insure a brushing of the central area of the Vdiverging from the axis of the brush, as

shown in Figures 5 and 6 and adapted to spread'apart when forced onto the bottom of the bottle, as shown in Fig. 1. These fingers 12 and 13 are secured in the diverging positions to predetermine the directions in which they are to spread. To retain said fingers in the diverging positions, they may be united at the axisA of the brush, and this union may be obtained by extending the finger 12 through an opening 15 formed in the finger 13, thereby providing a continuous brushing face extending across thel junction of the intersecting fingers. v

This continuous brushingfface is approxiu mately V-shaped in-Fig. 6, but when the end of the brush is forced onto the bottom of the bottle, the diverging fingers 12 and 13 spread apart and conform to the bottom.` Said fingers then extend in a continuousV line entirely across the bottom to provide the desired brushing at the center and at all otherpoints throughout the bottom. j

Furthermore, the rubber portions between the junction of the fingers 12and 13 and the end of the metal stem are free to yield in respense tolpressureexerted longitudinally of the stem, so the material at' said junctionis yieldingly forced onto the center ofthe bot.-

V.ing fingers 12 and 13 are positively spread apart on the bottom of the bottle, instead of being bent into an uncertain irregular condition, and that the arrangement shown provides al continuous brushing face extending across the junction of these fingers to brush the center of the bottle, vwhile Aend portions of the same ngers are positively located in the circular corner around the bottom.

l The other pair of endvfingers 14 lie at opposite sides of the junction of the intersecting fingers 12 and 13, and all of these fingerscooperate to brush the bottom of the bottle. This end brushing device. is preferably made of reinforced rubber tubing substantially as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The simple brushing device herein shown l .ment by theshoulders 5 and 6. The large, .heavy fingers provide for the desired forcible brushing action, and they have the strength and durability to withstand the severe'service conditions to which they are subjected.v

Furthermore, the novel brush includes the side-brushing fingers 8 especially adapted to perform the function of brushing the sides of the bottle, While the end brushing elements are differently arranged to positively provideV the desired brushing throughout the bottom and corner of the bottle. Thediff'erent groups of fingers thus cooperate with each other to effectively perform all of the desired functions. j

To provide for the insertion of the flaring brushing device into the bottle, a tube 16 (Fig. l) may beforced into the open end of the bottle, and the brushing device is reciprocated into and out of the tube, all of Which may be accomplished by any suitable mechanism.

We claim:

l. A bottle-Washing brush having flexible fingers at one end to brushk the `bottom of the bottle, said fingers crossing and being joined to each other at a point between their ends to provide a continuous brushing faceextending across the junction of the crossed fingers and adapted to brush the bottom of the bottle.

2. A bottle-Washing brush having flexible fingers at one end to brush the bottom of the bottle, said fingers crossing and being joined With a circular row of free rubber fingers to brush the sides of the bottle.

5. A bottle-Washing brush comprising a stem provided with seats, an endbrushing element in the form of a split rubber tube co1nprising an elastic rubber collar tensioned on the seat nearest the inner end of said stem and rubber fingers integral with and extending from said elastic collar to brush the bottom and corner of the bottle, and a side brushing element comprising another split rubber 'tube having an elastic rubber collar tensioned 'on another of said seats and provided with a circular roW of free rubber fingers integral With and'extendingfrom the last mentioned elastic collar to brush the sides of the bottle. In testimony We. claim the foregoing We hereunto afliX our signatures. l

JAMES L. HEROLD.

JOSEPH W. DAWSON.

veo

to each other at a point betweenl their ends to provide a continuous brushing face extending across the junction of the crossed fingers and adapted to brush the bottom of the bottle, and free, flexible brushing fingers at opposite sides of said junction adapted to cooperate with the crossed fingers in brushing the bottom of the bottle. Y Y

3. A bottle-Washing brush comprising a stem, a rubber collar surrounding and secured on an end portion of said stem, and flexible rubber fingers integral With and extending from said collar to brush the bottom and corner of the bottle, one of said fingers being provided Wit-h an opening beyond'said stem and the other being extended through saidk opening to provide brushing facesextending j across and flaring from the axis of the brush, said Haring faces being exposed at the end of the brush, so as to spread apart on the bottom of t-he bottle. Y Y

4. A bottle-Washing brush comprising a metal stein provided with annular seats and abutment shoulders at the inner ends of said seats, an end brushing element comprising an n ner of the bottle, two of said fingers beingA united in intersecting lines to provide a continuous brushing face across theaXis of the device, and a side brushing element' comprising another elastic rubber collar ten-v sioned on one of said seats and provided roo 

